Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionOperations Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Sound Engineering Technician pay by experience level
Entry level$39,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$51,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$75,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$104,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$142,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-1.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,200
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Sound Engineering Technician salary by industry
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
5,440 workers
$88,000
Motion Picture and Video Industries
2,820 workers
$104,000
Sound Recording Industries
2,620 workers
$71,000
Broadcasting and Content Providers
1,180 workers
$82,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,020 workers
$99,500
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events
980 workers
$70,000
Performing Arts Companies
920 workers
$85,500
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, & Other Media Networks & Content Providers
710 workers
$92,000
Administrative and Support Services
600 workers
$102,500
Educational Services
560 workers
$59,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sound Engineering Technician make?
The average base salary for a Sound Engineering Technician in the United States is $84,000 per year, or about $40.38 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $51,500 and $104,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media roles?
The Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family averages $88,500 across 45 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Sound Engineering Technician pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
